True Colors – English Lyrics

• By: Cyndi Lauper

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language can be a journey of self-discovery, much like the message of Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors." This song, with its clear and heartfelt lyrics, offers a beautiful way to learn English by exploring themes of empathy and authenticity. Its simple yet profound message of seeing and celebrating one's inner beauty makes it a timeless and inspiring piece of music to connect with.

[English]

(soft music)

♪ You with the sad eyes ♪

♪ Don't be discouraged ♪

♪ Oh I realize ♪

♪ It's hard to take courage ♪

♪ In a world full of people ♪

♪ You can lose sight of it all ♪

♪ And the darkness inside you ♪

♪ Can make you feel so small ♪

♪ But I see your true colors shining through ♪

♪ I see your true colors ♪

♪ And that's why I love you ♪

♪ So don't be afraid to let them show ♪

♪ Your true colors ♪

♪ True colors are beautiful ♪

♪ Like a rainbow ♪

(soft music)

♪ Show me a smile then ♪

♪ Don't be unhappy, can't remember when ♪

♪ I last saw you laughing ♪

♪ If this world makes you crazy ♪

♪ And you've taken all you can bear ♪

♪ You call me up, because you know I'll be there ♪

♪ And I'll see your true colors shining through ♪

♪ I see your true colors ♪

♪ And that's why I love you ♪

♪ So don't be afraid to let it show ♪

♪ Your true colors ♪

♪ True colors are beautiful ♪

♪ Like a rainbow ♪

(soft music)

♪ If this world makes you crazy ♪

♪ And you've taken all you can bear ♪

♪ You call me up, because you know I'll be there ♪

♪ And I'll see your true colors shining through ♪

♪ I see your true colors ♪

♪ And that's why I love you ♪

♪ So don't be afraid to let it show ♪

♪ Your true colors ♪

♪ True colors ♪

♪ True colors are shining through ♪

♪ I see your true colors ♪

♪ And that's why I love you ♪

♪ So don't be afraid to let them show ♪

♪ Your true colors ♪

♪ True colors are beautiful ♪

♪ Like a rainbow ♪

(soft music)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
sad /sæd/ A1	adjective - feeling or showing sorrow; unhappy
eyes /aɪz/ A1	noun - organs used for seeing
hard /hɑːrd/ A2	adjective - difficult to do or accomplish
world /wɜːld/ A1	noun - the earth, together with all of its countries, people, and natural features.
people /ˈpiːpl/ A1	noun - human beings in general or considered collectively.
sight /saɪt/ B1	noun - the ability to see
darkness /ˈdɑːrknəs/ B1	noun - the state of being dark; absence of light
small /smɔːl/ A1	adjective - limited in size or extent
true /truː/ A2	adjective - in accordance with fact or reality
colors /ˈkʌlər/ A1	noun - the property possessed by an object of producing different sensations on the eye as a result of the way it reflects or emits light.
shining /ˈʃaɪnɪŋ/ B1	verb - giving out or reflecting bright light.
love /lʌv/ A1	verb - to feel deep affection for someone
afraid /əˈfreɪd/ A2	adjective - feeling fear or anxiety; frightened
show /ʃoʊ/ A1	verb - to allow or cause to be visible
beautiful /ˈbjuːtɪfl/ A2	adjective - pleasing the senses or mind aesthetically
rainbow /ˈreɪnboʊ/ A2	noun - an arch of colors formed in the sky in certain circumstances, caused by the refraction and dispersion of the sun's light by rain or other water droplets in the atmosphere.
smile /smaɪl/ A1	noun - A happy or amused facial expression
laughing /ˈlæfɪŋ/ A1	verb - make sounds and movements of the face and body that express amusement or happiness.
crazy /ˈkreɪzi/ B1	adjective - mentally deranged, especially as manifested in a wild or aggressive way.

Key Grammar Structures

• Don't be discouraged

  ➔ Imperative form with negative 'don't'

  ➔ The sentence uses the imperative form to give a command or instruction. Adding "don't" makes it a negative command, advising against being discouraged.

• It's hard to take courage

  ➔ Impersonal 'it' + adjective + infinitive

  ➔ The sentence uses "it" as a placeholder subject, followed by an adjective ("hard") and then an infinitive phrase ("to take courage") which acts as the real subject. This is a common way to express difficulty or ease in doing something.

• You can lose sight of it all

  ➔ Modal verb 'can' + verb phrase

  ➔ This sentence uses the modal verb "can" to express possibility or ability. "Lose sight of" is an idiom, meaning to forget or no longer pay attention to something. "It all" refers to everything important.

• And the darkness inside you can make you feel so small

  ➔ Subject + modal verb + verb + object + adjective

  ➔ Here, "the darkness inside you" is the subject, "can make" is the verb phrase (with the modal verb "can"), "you" is the object, and "small" is the adjective describing the object's state. 'Make' is used in a causative sense, indicating that the darkness causes you to feel a certain way.

• I see your true colors shining through

  ➔ Present simple + object + present participle

  ➔ This sentence demonstrates the use of a present participle ("shining") as a complement to the object ("your true colors"). It describes an action that is happening concurrently with the main verb ("see").

• So don't be afraid to let them show

  ➔ Imperative + 'be afraid' + infinitive with 'to'

  ➔ This sentence combines a negative imperative ("don't be afraid") with an infinitive phrase ("to let them show"). "Them" refers back to "your true colors." It encourages someone to overcome their fear and reveal their true self.

• True colors are beautiful like a rainbow

  ➔ Subject + verb 'to be' + adjective + simile ('like')

  ➔ This sentence uses a simile to compare "true colors" to a "rainbow" using the word "like." It highlights the beauty and vibrancy of someone's genuine self.

• Can't remember when I last saw you laughing

  ➔ Negative contraction 'can't' + verb + subordinating conjunction 'when' + past simple + present participle

  ➔ This sentence uses a negative construction ("Can't remember") to express the speaker's inability to recall a past event. The subordinating conjunction "when" introduces a clause describing the time of the event ("I last saw you laughing"). 'Laughing' is a present participle modifying 'you'.